Regents English Figurative Language and Literary Devices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 'Life is a roller coaster' is an example of which literary device?
- Simile
- Metaphor (Correct answer)
- Allusion
- Hyperbole
Correct answer: Metaphor
A metaphor directly states that one thing is another, comparing life to a roller coaster without using 'like' or 'as.'
Question 2: 'The golden sun melted into the horizon as crimson waves lapped against the shore' primarily uses:
- Imagery (Correct answer)
- Alliteration
- Foreshadowing
- Paradox
Correct answer: Imagery
Imagery uses vivid, descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create a mental picture for the reader.
Question 3: 'The bees buzzed busily around the blooming flowers' contains which two literary devices?
- Simile and metaphor
- Alliteration and onomatopoeia (Correct answer)
- Imagery and personification
- Hyperbole and irony
Correct answer: Alliteration and onomatopoeia
'Buzzed' is onomatopoeia (a word that imitates a sound) and the repeated 'b' sounds demonstrate alliteration.
Question 4: When characters or events in a story represent abstract ideas beyond their literal meaning — such as characters representing love or hatred — the author is using:
- Allegory
- Symbolism (Correct answer)
- Allusion
- Motif
Correct answer: Symbolism
Symbolism is when a person, object, or event represents something beyond its literal meaning, such as an abstract idea like love.
Question 5: 'She arrived with the grace of a gazelle' — which device is used here?
- Metaphor
- Personification
- Simile (Correct answer)
- Onomatopoeia
Correct answer: Simile
This is a simile because it uses 'of' to compare her grace to a gazelle's in a way functionally equivalent to using 'like' or 'as.'
Question 6: When a character references the myth of Icarus to warn about the dangers of overambition, the author is using:
- Symbolism
- Foreshadowing
- An allusion (Correct answer)
- A paradox
Correct answer: An allusion
An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of literature to add meaning to the current text.
Question 7: 'I am so hungry I could eat a horse' — which device is used, and what is its purpose?
- Simile; to compare hunger to a horse
- Metaphor; to show literal hunger
- Hyperbole; to emphasize the degree of hunger (Correct answer)
- Personification; to give human qualities to hunger
Correct answer: Hyperbole; to emphasize the degree of hunger
This is hyperbole — an exaggeration used to emphasize how extremely hungry the speaker is, not meant to be taken literally.
Regents English Figurative Language and Literary Devices 2
'Life is a roller coaster' is an example of which literary device?